The beginning here was tough for me to write. Blaine insisted on a flashback, and he nearly broke my heart with his story.

Blaine sighed, then stood up and grabbed Kurt's hand, leading both of them to the bed. He sat on the edge, releasing Kurt's hand and patting the space next to him. Kurt sat down gingerly.

Blaine lifted the edge of his shirt slightly and lowered the waistband of his pants a little. "Do you see that mark?" he asked quietly.

Kurt's mouth dropped open as he stared at the angry red scar on Blaine's hip. He reached out, tentatively running his fingers over the raised skin. Blaine shivered, and Kurt snatched his hand away.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked.

Blaine bit his lip and shook his head.

"...what happened?" Kurt asked.

"Do you remember what I told you, the night you asked me to go to prom with you?" Kurt nodded.

"...well..."

There was nothing romantic about this date. They were two friends, who happened to be boys (and gay) and wanted to enjoy the dance without having to deal with the awkwardness of entertaining a female the entire time, worrying the girl would expect more than either of them were willing to give, even if it would mean keeping up "normal" appearances. And while they didn't overtly express themselves-their suits didn't even complement each other-it was still very obvious they were together.

And no one was happy about this. Blaine and Jeff were on the receiving end of many displeased, disgusted glances, but no one said anything to either of them. The boys had agreed to only react if one of them was verbally or physically taunted, so they ignored the uncomfortable glares of their fellow students and focused on having fun.

After the dance, they waited in front of the school for Jeff's dad to pick them up. Blaine bent down to tie his shoe...and when he stood up, Jeff was gone.

Terror seized his heart. He tried to keep his breathing calm as he listened for any sound to help him find his friend.

"LET ME GO!"

The shout came from the side of the building, followed quickly by a muffled thud.

Blaine resisted the urge to run towards the sound, trying instead to walk slowly in the direction of the noises, hoping to sneak up on Jeff's attackers and rescue the boy from their torment.

As he rounded the corner, Jeff screamed again. "Please...please just stop..." he sobbed. Blaine heard the loud thud...thud...thud...of blows landing, and then, finally, he could see them.

Jeff was lying on the ground, curled in a fetal position, with three boys pummeling him. All of Blaine's intentions to stay quiet, to try to sneak up on the boys, vanished immediately.

He started running. "STOP!" he shouted as he threw himself over Jeff.

Within moments, four hands grabbed him, dragging him off and away from Jeff. His arms and legs were quickly pinned down. He struggled mightily, trying desperately to break free. A fist landed in his gut, and the air whooshed out of his lungs. He fought for breath, his struggles to break free ceasing.

A hand pressed down on his hip. Another tugged on his shirt, pulling it free from his slacks. Something cool pressed against the skin of his hip. Blaine barely had time to register the sensation before pain seared through his body.

"Blaine? Blaine!"

Blaine leaped to his feet, breathing hard, pulse pounding.

"...Blaine?" The voice questioned, tentative this time. Blaine forced himself to focus, to look into Kurt's wide, frightened eyes.

Kurt slowly stood up, keeping his hands at his sides as he walked toward Blaine.

"...what...what happened?" Blaine asked. He searched his mind for the memory but couldn't remember what had occurred in the last few minutes.

Kurt took a deep breath. "You were telling me what happened...the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance..." he paused, his eyes filling with tears. "You had just reached Jeff, and the boys had pinned you down, and one of them...he.."

Blaine reached out, pulling Kurt into his arms, clinging tightly as they both began to cry.

Time passed. Their sobs turned to sniffles and faded into silence, but neither boy was ready to let go. Kurt stepped backwards, pulling Blaine with him and sitting down on the edge of the bed. Blaine sat on Kurt's lap, his arms wrapped around Kurt's neck and his face buried in Kurt's chest.

Kurt rested his chin on Blaine's head, then buried his face in the other boy's curls. "So Blaine..."

"Mmm?" Blaine murmured.

"Not that I mind...but why did you share that story with me?"

Blaine sighed, then pulled away from Kurt slightly so he could look into his boyfriend's eyes.

"That's not the only mark they left on me, Kurt," he whispered. Kurt's hands immediately reached for the hem of Blaine's shirt, only to be stopped by Blaine's firm grasp on his wrists. "No. Not now," he said, taking Kurt's hands in his. Kurt frowned, then opened his mouth to protest, only to be silenced by Blaine's finger resting on his lips. "I'll tell you everything, eventually, but right now..." he dropped his hand and sighed, his gaze shifting to their joined hands.

"I shared that story with you because...it's so ugly. I have seen ugliness, Kurt; I've seen and experienced terrible, awful things." He raised his head, locking his eyes with Kurt's.

"You...you embody everything that is good, and perfect, and right in this world, Kurt." He placed his hands on either side of Kurt's face. "You are so incredibly kind and compassionate, and your outward appearance...that's a reflection of who you are inside, Kurt. And to know that you don't see how beautiful you are..." Blaine sighed. "I wish you would see yourself the way I see you."

Kurt laced his fingers through Blaine's, where they still rested on his cheeks. "I...I'll try," he whispered, and Blaine's eyes lit up. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to Kurt's. This time, Kurt responded eagerly, molding his lips to Blaine's.

Blaine pressed further, tilting Kurt back until he was lying on the bed with Blaine hovering over him.

They stayed that way for a few minutes, kissing, touching exploring. Yes, they were both eager teenagers, but this was brand new territory for both of them, and they wanted to savor every moment. Neither felt the need to rush to the end when the beginning was so exhilarating.

Eventually, Blaine pulled away, laying his head on Kurt's chest and trying to steady his breathing. Kurt's chest was heaving; his face flushed and his hair a mess.

"I love you," Blaine whispered.

Kurt smiled sleepily. "I love you too."

When Burt opened the door, he noticed that his house was quiet. Almost too quiet, he thought. Kurt asked if he could bring Blaine over for the afternoon...I wonder... Burt tried to avoid thinking about what his son-and step-son, for that matter-did with their significant others, but he remembered being a teenage boy, dealing with hormones and the excitement of first love.

He peeked in the kitchen, noting how much time was left before dinner would be finished. The boys weren't in the living room, either. That really only left one place. Burt sighed, then started to climb the stairs to the second floor.

"Burt?" he heard Carole's voice calling him from the garage.

"Yeah?"

"Is Kurt nearby? I need to ask him something." Carole entered the house, toeing off her shoes and closing the door to the garage.

"No. I haven't seen either of the boys yet."

Carole shot him a knowing glance. "I know what you're thinking. Two boys, alone in the house for a few hours..." Burt rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

Carole pressed a hand to his cheek. "You and Kurt talked about this, remember? The two of you agreed on what behaviors would be acceptable while we're out." She moved her hand to his shoulder, squeezing slightly. "You raised your son well, Burt. Have a little faith in him."She smiled, and Burt relaxed a little.

"How about I go take a look upstairs, hmm? And if the two of you need to talk, I'll send him down right away. Why don't you go check on dinner for us?"

Burt pecked her on the lips, then wandered back into the kitchen.

Carole quietly climbed the stairs, listening for any unusual sounds. Kurt usually had music playing if he was in his bedroom and the silence was somewhat disconcerting. As she reached his bedroom, she noticed the door was open. She peeked inside...

...the boys were lying on Kurt's bed, Blaine lying on top of Kurt with his arms tight around her step-son's waist. One of Kurt's hands was buried in Blaine's hair, the other resting on the small of his back.

The boys were fast asleep. Carole could see tear tracks on each of the boys' cheeks and wondered what had gone on.

She backed out of the room, closing the door quietly.

Kurt woke slowly. He was warm, and a comforting weight was pressed into his stomach, strong arms wrapped around his waist.

He opened his eyes, gazing first at the ceiling, then down at the head of curls laying on his stomach, and, finally, at the door.

…the closed door.

I don't recall closing that when we came in here, Kurt ran through what had happened after they came inside. Blaine had led him upstairs, and neither of them had bothered to close the door before they made their way to Kurt's vanity. And after their talk, they'd lain on the bed for a few minutes, neither of them saying a word…and had, evidently, fallen asleep right there. Blaine's arms hadn't moved from where they'd been clasped around Kurt's waist before they had fallen asleep, and Kurt couldn't have moved without awakening the other boy.

Who closed the door then… Kurt's eyes widened in horror before he slammed them shut and groaned.

Blaine mumbled sleepily, turning his head to the other side, his arms tightening around Kurt's waist.

Kurt sighed and began running his fingers through Blaine's curls, lightly tugging on the ends.

"Wake up, little one," he whispered, continuing to tug on Blaine's curls. His other hand began lightly tracing his boyfriend's spine. Blaine squirmed, murmuring quietly. Kurt chuckled, then reached to run his fingers down Blaine's sides.

Blaine bolted upright, smacking Kurt's hands away. "Stop that," he scolded, eyes half-shut. "I never should have told you how ticklish I am."

Kurt laughed, reaching out to ruffle Blaine's hair. Blaine shook his head, making Kurt laugh harder.

Blaine smiled at Kurt, glancing sideways at him. "Sleep well?" he asked, grinning.

Kurt stretched, his shirt creeping up his torso, revealing a strip of pale skin. Blaine dove at him, ticking his sides aggressively.

"Gah. Blaine! Stop!" Kurt squirmed under his boyfriend's hands. Blaine's hands stilled as he leaned forward to peck Kurt on the nose. He pulled back briefly, hazel eyes meeting brilliant blue, then pressed his lips to Kurt's.

A sharp knock startled both of them. Blaine jerked away from Kurt, ready to put distance between them if necessary.

"Kurt?" Carole's voice called through the door. "Are you boys awake?" The door handle began to turn, and Blaine started to pull away from Kurt, only to be yanked back to Kurt's chest. "Carole won't make a big deal about this," Kurt whispered.

"And your dad would, right?" Blaine replied, chuckling. He rested his head on Kurt's chest, his face turned away from the door.

"Absolutely. And don't get me started on Finn."

The door opened, and Carole peeked in. "Kurt?" she queried as she glanced at the bed. "Oh, good! You're up. Dinner will be ready soon...I'm assuming Blaine is joining us?" Kurt nodded, running his fingers through Blaine's hair. Carole sat down on the bed, leaning over to peer at Blaine. "Is he still asleep?" she asked.

Even though Blaine's breathing was even, his posture relaxed and his eyes closed, Kurt knew he hadn't fallen asleep again. "Maybe," he replied. "He's had a long week..."

Carole reached a hand over, gently brushing Blaine's hair away from his forehead.

"Oh!" Carole looked over at Kurt.

"...yes?" Kurt asked, slightly wary.

"Your father was watching the news; a bad storm is headed our way, and even if Blaine left now, he might not beat it home. He agreed that Blaine could spend the night if the storm hits and doesn't let up by a reasonable hour."

Kurt's eyes widen. "...he agreed to let Blaine sleep over?" he asked, disbelief coloring his words. Carole smiled.

"Yes. We spent a long time discussing it-specifically sleeping arrangements," she glanced over at Kurt, whose face was turning red once again. "I think you'll like what we decided."

Kurt quirked a brow. "Oh?" he said, trying to keep his breathing even. He knew if his father had been the only one making the rules, Blaine would sleep as far away from Kurt as possible-preferably in, say, the garage, but with Carole here to reason with him...

"I convinced him to let you and Blaine share your room, if you boys wanted to."

Kurt nearly bolted upright in surprise, and he felt Blaine's hands tighten around him slightly.

"How did you manage to do that?" Kurt asked, completely stunned.

Carole smiled softly. "I reminded him that waking up in the arms of the one you love is one of the best feelings a person can enjoy. We shouldn't deny you that, even if you are young." Carole paused, glancing at Blaine again. "I've seen the way he looks at you, Kurt. You're not just another boy to him. You're special." She looked at Kurt again. "And I know you feel the same way."

Kurt blushed, ducking his head and looking away. Carole placed a hand on his cheek.

"I also know what it's like to be young and in love. To want to have your 'other half' with you whenever you possibly can, to be able to hold, touch and kiss that person often. To explore one another, to deepend the relationship." Kurt's blush deepened as Carole continued speaking. He knew where the conversation was going and hoped this wouldn't be too awkward.

"Your father is of the opinion that the two of you can't keep your hands off each other, " Kurt turned scarlet, and Carole laughed quietly. "He's also very, very protective of you. And while I, too, want only the best for you, and want to just wrap you in my arms and keep you safe forever, that's simply not possible." Carole rested her hands in her lap, pausing a moment before she continued, "Kurt, I'm not saying you can't have sex with your boyfriend-"she paused and glanced at Kurt, who had made a choked-off sound "just...don't do anything you're not ready for, alright? Your father is convinced Blaine is, or will, pressure you to move faster than you boys ought to, but I disagree. Unfortunately, he doesn't understand when I say 'I just have a feeling,' so I haven't had much luck convincing him to change his mind."

"He isn't pressuring me," Kurt said softly. "Neither of us is really ready...We've talked about it a little, but..." his voice trailed off.

"I don't need the details, sweetheart," Carole said. "If you want to talk about it, I'll always be willing to listen, but don't feel obligated, okay?" She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'm going to go help your father finish making dinner. Finn is taking Rachel out, so it'll just be the four of us." She left the room, closing the door behind her.

Kurt felt Blaine start shaking. "Blaine?" he asked, slightly worried.

"I wish I could have seen you face during that conversation," Blaine said, choking on his laughter. "Your expressions must have been absolutely priceless!"

Kurt pursed his lips before grabbing Blaine's arms and shoving him off the bed. Blaine landed with a thud, and Kurt got off the bed, walking towards the door. Blaine caught his arm just as Kurt was reaching for the knob.

"Aww, Kurt, come on, don't be upset. It wasn't even that bad!" Kurt didn't turn around. Blaine wrapped his arms around Kurt, rising up on his toes to press a kiss to the skin below Kurt's ear. Kurt shivered, then whirled around and pressed his lips to Blaine's.

"I wasn't mad at all, actually," he said, smirking. "I just like to see you grovel." He opened the door, dashing out and leaving Blaine standing in his bedroom, mouth hanging open.